Belmont man suspected in fatal Waltham shooting turns himself in

Authorities have Domingo Mendes, 22, of Belmont, under arrest on charges in connection with the March 20 shooting death of Tyler Zanco, 17, of Waltham, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson announced Thursday.

Authorities have Domingo Mendes, 22, of Belmont, under arrest on charges in connection with the March 20 shooting death of Tyler Zanco, 17, of Waltham, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson announced Thursday.

Mendes, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to Waltham Police Thursday night on an outstanding warrant for murder, possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

He is expected to be arraigned Friday in Waltham District Court.

Authorities had previously arrested Taylor Poulin, 21, of Newton, in connection with the shooting. He is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, unlicensed possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and conspiracy to violate the drug laws, and is being held without bail.

At about 10 p.m. on March 20, Waltham Police received multiple reports of shots fired in the parking lot at 31 Middlesex Circle. Police responded immediately and discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot.

The victim, Zanco, was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police allege Poulin was a part of a botched drug rip-off that resulted in the death of Zanco. Zanco and two friends planned to set up and rip off Poulin in retaliation for a prior incident when Poulin cheated Zanco’s cousin of two ounces of marijuana, according to a police affidavit.

The fake drug deal allegedly happened in the parking lot of the Gardencrest Apartments on Middlesex Circle, where Zanco tazed Poulin in the head before the two started fighting on the ground, according to the affidavit. Mendes then came over to the two fighting, took a black revolver out of Poulin’s waistband and shot, police said.